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TI Jazz Rounds are dangerous. Heed my warning.

#142
I just received a set and threw them on my Carvin SB5000. So far so good.

The tone is good, and especially on the E and A strings there's a nice subtle growl coming out of the front pickup. Really strong fundamental, minimal string noise.

The feel is going to take some getting used to. They make the Sunbeams I had on this bass previously feel like tree trunks. But I can see that this is the path to a much more comfortable playing experience. Nice and smooth too.

The G string output initially sounded quite a bit quieter than the rest of the strings, but a tweak to the pickup height seems to have sorted that out.

The only real downside so far is that I don't really like the green silks! But if the strings end up working out for me I guess I can live with it.

My hope is they last as long as some say they do, purely because of the cost. I want to get at least a couple of months out of them to make them financially viable.
 
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#144
g-dude said:
Thomastik Infeld has a long history of making strings, finally branching out into guitar and bass guitar from its history of making orchestral strings.

But there is a dark side that nobody dares speak about.

Things were fine until I installed my first set of jazz rounds. At first, it was an issue of adjusting my setup, and lightening my touch.

All was fine. Until it finally happened.

Left hand - ruined. Right hand - ruined.

Other strings, such at D’Addario, Ernie Balls, and even Optima round wounds suddenly felt abrasive and stiff under my right hand. Under my left hand, they felt draggy - as if I was running sandpaper across wood, or had fingertips made of Velcro.

My hands are now ruined...for other strings. Even the TI Super Alloys, a very nice string, seems brutish in comparison.

At this point, the only solution is to eventually migrate all my basses with round wounds to TI Jazz Rounds.

Well played, Thomastik. Well played indeed.

If you disregard my words of warning, I am not responsible for what happens next.
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How is the tension? I liked the sound of their Jazz Flats but couldn't do the low-tension.
 
#148
DylanB said:
My hope is they last as long as some say they do, purely because of the cost. I want to get at least a couple of months out of them to make them financially viable.
Click to expand...
Cracker7 said:
How long do they last?
Click to expand...

So I can’t remember how long my longest set has been on - it’s either since October 2019 or April 2018, but they’re still going strong.

twinjet said:
How is the tension? I liked the sound of their Jazz Flats but couldn't do the low-tension.
Click to expand...

The tension is much lower. Much much lower. That being said, your technique will end up changing over time. My right hand plays them differently than basses with different strings.
 
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#150
DylanB said:
I just received a set and threw them on my Carvin SB5000. So far so good.

The tone is good, and especially on the E and A strings there's a nice subtle growl coming out of the front pickup. Really strong fundamental, minimal string noise.

The feel is going to take some getting used to. They make the Sunbeams I had on this bass previously feel like tree trunks. But I can see that this is the path to a much more comfortable playing experience. Nice and smooth too.

The G string output initially sounded quite a bit quieter than the rest of the strings, but a tweak to the pickup height seems to have sorted that out.

The only real downside so far is that I don't really like the green silks! But if the strings end up working out for me I guess I can live with it.

My hope is they last as long as some say they do, purely because of the cost. I want to get at least a couple of months out of them to make them financially viable.
Click to expand...

How would you compare the tone of the sunbeams to the jazz rounds?
 
#152
fishdude101101 said:
Is the standard long scale set of jazz rounds long enough to go through the body on an MIA jazz? Are there silks at both ends?
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My set has green silks at both ends. Here’s how it looks strung through the bridge on a 34” Carvin SB5000. Lots of length left after the nut, I’m sure you would be fine.

53D315B3-BDFF-4E66-80FE-2DE2DDECB3F8.jpeg 00E4CA55-0419-43CD-A533-C5857289226A.jpeg

fishdude101101 said:
How would you compare the tone of the sunbeams to the jazz rounds?
Click to expand...

I thought new Sunbeams had a bit more character than these, but that went away after about a month. These seem a bit more neutral to me, but still with a bit of growl. The feel is the more significant difference for me.
 
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#153
DylanB said:
My set has green silks at both ends. Here’s how it looks strung through the bridge on a 34” Carvin SB5000. Lots of length left after the nut, I’m sure you would be fine.

View attachment 4185667 View attachment 4185668



I thought new Sunbeams had a bit more character than these, but that went away after about a month. These seem a bit more neutral to me, but still with a bit of growl. The feel is the more significant difference for me.
Click to expand...


Really? Maybe I have silks and don’t notice! That bass is in its case, and the only one I have on my stand at the moment has TI Super Alloys.
 
#157
How smooth are these? I have a chambered 51 P that has strings that I really don’t like anymore...just on that bass. I had taken the old school sadowsky blue labels off it for another bass. The jazz rounds sound like they’d be just the tickets without aggregating my hands, just need some advice
 
#158
redstrand said:
How smooth are these? I have a chambered 51 P that has strings that I really don’t like anymore...just on that bass. I had taken the old school sadowsky blue labels off it for another bass. The jazz rounds sound like they’d be just the tickets without aggregating my hands, just need some advice
Click to expand...
Some people who have played my basses with JRs on them thought they were flats, feel-wise. Is that smooth enough? They aren't really as smooth as flats but pretty close that I think your hands will no longer be angry aggravated.
 
#159
Jeff Scott said:
Some people who have played my basses with JRs on them thought they were flats, feel-wise. Is that smooth enough? They aren't really as smooth as flats but pretty close that I think your hands will no longer be angry aggravated.
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Thank you, I have flats on all but one bass, love TI’s on the basses I have, if they feel that smooth I’ll give them a shot
 
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#160
redstrand said:
How smooth are these? I have a chambered 51 P that has strings that I really don’t like anymore...just on that bass. I had taken the old school sadowsky blue labels off it for another bass. The jazz rounds sound like they’d be just the tickets without aggregating my hands, just need some advice
Click to expand...

They’re the Billy Dee Williams of strings.

Other strings just feel rough and uncivilized in comparison.
 
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